Communion With the Christ:: The Supremacy of Christ

"My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." Col: 2:2-3

In a particular congregation in which I had preached on many occasions, there was a person who literally closed their eyes and ears whenever I preached, that is, when this person realized that the sermon, as with all my sermons, would be focused upon the Lord Jesus Christ.

I could literally discern a darkness like a descending veil which came over this person. This darkness descended between he and I regardless of how bright the church was illuminated. At times, this person would even scowl at me in obvious disgust when preaching about Jesus.

If, however, I was to mention wars, earthquakes the Temple Mount or the People of Israel, or the end of the world, this person's eyes would open suddenly showing immediate interest. These things caught this person's attention.

Once, during a sermon this individual silently mouthed the words "you don't know what you're talking about" to me as I stood at the pulpit and preached about the Lord Jesus.

As far as I know, the person of Jesus Christ was only a minor interest to this person, that is, unless of course we are speaking of Jesus in terms of his coming as a conquering King ready to make war upon the rebellious powers of the world system at the end of human civilization. Yes, Jesus Christ will return and the rule of God over all things will be openly made manifested.

Jesus as "Tripe"

For some persons, the focus upon the person of Jesus is considered "tripe”, or dull, or as I have heard some call it, the "milk" of the word. This, was however not the way the Apostolic Church understood it.

The Apostolic Church had an intense unwavering focus upon the person of our Lord Jesus Christ. The early Church saw Jesus as having supremacy over all things, they encountered Jesus in the whole of the Holy Scripture from Genesis to Revelation, each reading of the Scripture was an ongoing revelation about who Jesus is and all that he has is and will do.

Jesus, was in the minds of the early church the whole purpose of God, and by Him we are blessed to share in that purpose.

"For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him." Col: 1:16

None Like Jesus

St. Paul tells us that Jesus was more than just the facilitator of creation but that it is "for Him”. All that is, or ever will be in both time and eternity are for Jesus.

This makes Jesus more than just a "divine messenger", it speaks of him and his place as that one and only uniquely born Son of the living God, He who is both fully God and fully human. There is no other like Jesus nor will there ever be. Jhn: 1:1-3,14

Found in Jesus

St. Paul wrote to the Church at Colossi in Asia Minor around 62 AD , a church which was being influenced by Gnostic teachers and their mysteries. But St. Paul is addressing Christians even today. The Apostle tells us, and Christians throughout the ages, that anything of any eternal value is found in our Lord and it was St. Paul's purpose to make this plain to the church then and to us now.

The Church at Colossi was for a time hearing things that excited some of them and caught their attention. St. Paul was directing them back to Jesus where we find all things that are of any eternal worth. The more we look upon Jesus and consider his Holy person, the more comes forth in and from him, all things that we could ever hope for are found in Jesus.

St. Paul addressed the very supremacy of Jesus again to the Roman Christians.

"For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen."Rm:11:36

As we look upon Jesus and come to understand all that He is for us, there comes a moment that defies description, a moment, when you see the glory.

You come to see that it is all about Him. When we come to see this, all other things fade in to insignificance.

"He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy." Col: 1:18b

It's All About Jesus

All time and eternity is about the person of Jesus Christ, he is the pivotal person that things seen and unseen all revolves around, all the history of Salvation is about Jesus Christ.

We see this in the Book of Revelation which in truth is an ongoing revealing about Jesus, not just "events" but Jesus in spite of these events.

The Apostle St. John in vision sees a glimpse of the heavenly worship and St. John sees the heavenly host surrounding our Lord, who is represented as a slain Lamb, and all of Heaven is in unified worship, praise and adoration for and toward our Lord Jesus Christ alone. Our Lord Jesus is there at the center of it all.

"Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders." Rev: 5:6

Jesus is not a side point; he is the whole point. Jesus is not just some "divine messenger". He is the whole message. Jesus is at the center of the Throne, which means that all of God's sovereignty and power and purpose is revolving around who Jesus is.

It is all about him and him alone, and in Jesus the great God fully reveals himself to us perfectly. All of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit are found in Jesus, when we come to Jesus, we do not exclude the Father or the Holy Spirit.

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross."Col:1:15-20

Wars and events, can tantalize us and give us a carnal "feeling" of having special understanding, of being in control, of knowing things that others do not, but in the end, they will not save us, only Jesus does.

Unfortunately, the person, whom I referred to at the start, apparently believed that looking upon Jesus as the focus and our whole approach to all things sees this as "tripe" and "milk". If this is the view that is held it is sad, they have truly missed the whole point, in spite of what they tell themselves or others.

Speaking of Jesus

Jesus himself tells us that the Holy Spirit's ministry to us would be and still is to speak to us of Jesus and all that is in relation to Jesus. The Holy Spirit will show us our Lord and remind us of His words and who Jesus is.

"When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me" Jhn:15:26

If one does not speak of Jesus, or is focused upon something other than Jesus, it is not coming out of the Holy Spirit, but out of the flesh, for the Holy Spirit will always direct us to Jesus Christ who will reveal to us the Father who will draw us to his Son by the Spirit, who will again reveal the Father.

We the Church need to keep the person of Jesus as the central focus of all things nor shut our eyes and our ears at the mention of His Holy name and keep our eyes upon our Lord Jesus Christ Who has the supremacy over all things.

Benediction: May we each and all look to our Lord Jesus and acknowledge his supremacy today, tomorrow and forevermore. Amen.